American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)

The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is the leading national and international professional association for respiratory care. The AARC encourages and promotes professional excellence, advances the science and practice of respiratory care, and serves as an advocate for patients and their families, the public, the profession and the respiratory therapist.

Founded in 1947, the AARC is a not-for-profit professional association with more than 47,000 members worldwide. Their primary membership consists of respiratory therapists, allied health practitioners who are trained at the 2- and 4-year college level to assist physicians in the care of patients with lung disorders and other conditions. Respiratory therapists can be found in all areas of health care, including hospitals, home care, nursing homes, and physicians’ offices - in short, anywhere patients are being treated for lung diseases.

AARC Mission Statement:
The AARC is the foremost professional association promoting respiratory therapists.

AARC Vision Statement:
The AARC advances professional excellence and science in the practice of respiratory therapy, serving the profession, patients, caregivers and the public.